Full Breakdown
Former Gujarat Chief Minister Shankersinh Vaghela in Advanced Talks to Rejoin the Congress
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Ongoing Negotiations for a Party Return
Former Gujarat chief minister Shankersinh Vaghela, 86, is in “advanced talks” with senior Congress leaders about re-entering the party. Vaghela told *The Indian Express* that he is prepared to join the Congress to “throw out the BJP government.” “To throw out the BJP government, I am ready to join (the Congress),” — Shankersinh Vaghela, former gujarat chief He said his decision hinges on a meeting with Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi. Discussions have involved AICC general secretary for Gujarat Randeep Singh Surjewala, Gujarat Congress president Amit Chavda, and former Union minister Bharatsinh Solanki. Final approval remains with the party’s central command.
Background & Context
Vaghela’s political trajectory spans several parties. He began with the Jana Sangh, helped build the BJP in Gujarat, and broke away in 1996 to form the Rashtriya Janata Party, which supported a Congress-backed government that made him chief minister (1996-1997). The RJP merged with the Congress in 1998, after which Vaghela served as Union textiles minister in the UPA government and later as Leader of Opposition in the Gujarat Assembly. He quit the Congress in 2017, shortly before a Rajya Sabha election, and subsequently founded the Praja Shakti Democratic Party (PSDP) in 2024.
Data & Statistics
- Age: 86 years.
- Current Congress strength in Gujarat: 12 of 182 Assembly seats; one Lok Sabha seat (Banaskantha, represented by Geniben Thakor) won in 2024.
- Upcoming electoral calendar: Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation polls scheduled for October 11 (2024) and the 2027 Gujarat Assembly election, which Vaghela describes as his “last chance” to make a political impact.
- Vaghela announced an “aggressive campaign” for the PSDP beginning October 2 (2024).
Official Statements & Responses
- Gujarat Congress president Amit Chavda confirmed that talks with Vaghela and his supporters are ongoing and that the state unit has given a “go-ahead” for his return, pending central clearance.
- Party spokesperson Manish Doshi said, “People are seeing hope in Gandhi as the leader who will save the country and the Constitution. Therefore, Congress is welcoming all like-minded people.” “People are seeing hope in Gandhi as the leader who will save the country and the Constitution. Therefore, Congress is welcoming all like-minded people.” — Manish Doshi, gujarat congress spokesperson
- AICC Gujarat in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala could not be reached for comment at the time of reporting.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources agree that the Gujarat unit supports Vaghela’s return, but they differ on the status of central approval. NDTV and *Moneycontrol* report that the final decision rests with the party high command, while *The Indian Express* notes that Vaghela has already spoken with AICC officials. No formal announcement of his induction has been made, leaving the exact timeline for any official re-entry unclear.
What’s Next
- A meeting with Rahul Gandhi is identified as a prerequisite for finalizing Vaghela’s return.
- The Congress high command is expected to decide on his induction before the Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation elections on October 11.
- If approved, Vaghela could be deployed as a “star campaigner” for those municipal polls and potentially play a prominent role in the 2027 Gujarat Assembly election strategy.